diff --git a/roles/install/vars/D-Debian-10.yml b/roles/install/vars/D-Debian-10.yml
index 37aa9585..cd86b16b 100644
--- a/roles/install/vars/D-Debian-10.yml
+++ b/roles/install/vars/D-Debian-10.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ _community_sops_install_system_has_system: false
 _community_sops_install_system_has_system_latest_only: true
 _community_sops_install_system_has_github: true
 
-_community_sops_install_allow_downgrade: true
+_community_sops_install_allow_downgrade: '{{ ansible_version.full is version("2.12", ">=") }}'
 
 _community_sops_install_system_packages:
   - gnupg
diff --git a/roles/install/vars/D-Ubuntu-20.yml b/roles/install/vars/D-Ubuntu-20.yml
index 37aa9585..cd86b16b 100644
--- a/roles/install/vars/D-Ubuntu-20.yml
+++ b/roles/install/vars/D-Ubuntu-20.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ _community_sops_install_system_has_system: false
 _community_sops_install_system_has_system_latest_only: true
 _community_sops_install_system_has_github: true
 
-_community_sops_install_allow_downgrade: true
+_community_sops_install_allow_downgrade: '{{ ansible_version.full is version("2.12", ">=") }}'
 
 _community_sops_install_system_packages:
   - gnupg
diff --git a/roles/install/vars/OS-Debian.yml b/roles/install/vars/OS-Debian.yml
index 9fc2ebc6..7a1ae333 100644
--- a/roles/install/vars/OS-Debian.yml
+++ b/roles/install/vars/OS-Debian.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ _community_sops_install_system_has_system: false
 _community_sops_install_system_has_system_latest_only: true
 _community_sops_install_system_has_github: true
 
-_community_sops_install_allow_downgrade: true
+_community_sops_install_allow_downgrade: '{{ ansible_version.full is version("2.12", ">=") }}'
 
 _community_sops_install_system_packages:
   - gnupg